Air conditioning apparatus



Nov. 14, 1944. l H w. scl-IAEFERl 2,362,933

' AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed March a, 1941 2 sheds-snapt 1 NOV-14" H. w. 'scHAE-FER v AIR' CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed uacn a, 1941 2sheets-sheet 2 PatentedNov. 1,4, 194.4

Am coNDi'rrdNmG APPARATUS Harold William Schaefer, Chicago, Ill.,assignorl to The Harry Alter Co.

ration of Illinois Chicago, Ill., a corpo- Application Marchs,1941,-sealNo.`3sz,325

sclaims., mms3-36) n This invention'lrelateslto air conditioningapparatusand particularly to that class of air conditioning apparatuswhich is employed inthe elimination of objectionable odors which fre-'quently prevail in kitchens, hospitals, public rooms, experimental testlaboratories, and pet/ shops or menageries.

Several methods are employed .in-the attempted elimination of suchoffensive odors.` First and most common is by dilution of the room airwith fresh outdoorair.l 'I'his is objectionable incold weather and,yunless exceedingly large quantities of outdoor air are admitted, theodors frequently persist. 'Ihe use-of suction fans for the removal ofodor-laden air is effective but, unless odors are to be circulatedthroughout an' entire building, requires the useI of `suction apparatusfor each room or of suction'ducts leading to such apparatus. Thisinvolves objectionable expense. Sometimes incense or similar materialhaving -a pleasing ,odor is discharged into the room containing theoffensive odor. Thisjproceduredoes not eliminate .the odor. It onlyserves to masi; it-to a certain degree. j -The vpresent inventionprovides apparatus effectively absorbing such odors by drawing orforcing the room'air through a bed of material having the property ofabsorbingl odors contained in such air and thendischargingthe odorfreeair back.1'nto the roorrl.` I have found that activated carbon inpowdered `or comminuted form serves admirably as a material forabsorbing odors and that odor-laden air passed through a relatively thinbed thereof emerges substantially odor free.

It is an important present invention to provide a portable'apparatusabject, therefore," of the Cv e embodying a bed orador-absorbingmaterialI and mechanism for causing odor-ladenv air to be forcedtherethroughI and discharged into a room from which the alrwasoriginally taken.

l s It is a further object ofthis invention topro vide odor-absorbingapparatus wherein the bed invention will be apparent from reference tothe following 4specification and the accompanying drawings. I

Theinventionpin a preferred form, is shown on the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Eigure 1 is atop plan view of an apparatus embodying the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is "a side elevation thereof. Figure 3 is n.a central verticalsection taken through apparatus embodying the present` invention withparts shown in elevation.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on the line IV,-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a` diagrammatic showing of one method ofniabricating a wallof the odor absorbing cartridge.

As shownon' the drawings:

In the apparatus embodying principles of the presentinvention, there isprovided astamped metal base portion having an integral bottom part 5and an annularly extending 'outside upstanding wall 6. 'I'he Wallportion 6` terminates at its upper extremity in a beaded edge l. Asshown in Figure 3, the height of the base portion as 4defined b'y thewall 6 is preferably approximately one-third that of the lairconditioning assembly.

Annular cartridge-positioning rings v8 rest on the upper face of thebottom portion 5 extend- .ing upwardly therefrom, and provide means forlimiting the inward movement of the absorbent cartridge ina manner tobev described herein-l after. l-Secured to the inner side of theupstandof absorbing material is in cartridge form to permit of its'ready replacement when its' odor-re- -moving qualities have hausted. u

Itis-another object of vention-to provide simple, durable apparatus foruse in the removal ofv oensiveodors from ro 9mthe present invention toprovidev a cartridge of odor-absorbing material y which is of improvedandeconomical construcbeen substantially e x ing side wall portion 6 area plurality of spacing brackets 9 which v are conveniently'attac'zhedvto,- the member 6 by bolts' or screws I D, as plainlyv shown in Figure3.y 'I'hese spacing brackets 9 arel oiset .inwardly directly abovetheirpoints of attachment to the side Wall 6 v and extend upwardly in`a'plane parallel to but spaced inwardly fromthe plane of said portion6.

At their upper ends the members 9 are again bent outwardly andupwardlyto afford attaching portionsin alignment; with portions ofsaidmembers attached to the base6 AAt such upper ends,

each of saidmembers 9 is attached'by removable bolts or screws\|| to acup-shaped top or' cover member Whch'embodies an vannular Wall portionl2 extending in substantially the same plane as the bottom wall portion3 and which further embodies a centrally apertured top portion I3.

Carried by said top portion I3 and positioned in the central apertureformed therein is a suction fan I4 driven by a moixir I5, the entire ianand motor assembly being carried by a bracket I6 attached to the topportion I3 near the edge of the central aperture ed on the cover memberI3 and surrounding that portion of the fan I4 which projects from thecasing is a grille type guard I1 constructed of wire, steel rod or inany suitable manner. This guard prevents accidents to occupants of theroom who might otherwise accidentally come in contact with the rotatingfan I4.

Each of the brackets 9 is spaced between the lower edge of the side wallI2 of the cover portion (which is beaded as at I2a) and the upper edgeof the side wall section. An annular screen or grille I8, of relativelythin screen wire mate' rial, is positioned between the inner faces ofthe members 6 and I2 at their upper respectively and stapled 'to thevouter faces of spacer blocks I9 which are interposed between the saidscreen member' I8 and the extremities of `the offset portions of thebrackets 9.

-The assembly of parts just described provides apparatus which, when themotor I and fan I4 are operated, will serve to draw air from a room inwhich the apparatus is positioned into the interior of the casing andforce it outwardly through the screens or grillesv I8.

Reference will now be made to the removable odor-absorbing cartridgewhich is positioned in the path of the air in its movement justdescribed.

This cartridge, which is most-plainly shown in Figures 3 and 4, in eectcomprises odor-absorby ing filter beds of activated carbon material,such,

for example, as finely powdered or comminuted charcoal, which materialhas been found to have the property of absorbing odors from air andretaining such odors even though relatively large quantities of air arepassed therethrough Over a considerable period of time. The removablecartridge which I have devised consists of a cylindrical member havingspaced annular walls the outer portions of which are preferably formedof screen or wire cloth which is designated at and 2l in order to retainthe powdered or comminuted material forming the filter bed'. Theseannular screen or wire cloth members 20- and 2I are each provided with aliner 20a and 2Ia respectively of textile material such, for example, asfinely woven cotton cloth.

These outer and inner walls ofthe cartridge comprising the layers 2l and2Ia and 20 and 20a respectively `are rolled into overlapping annularform as shown in Figure 4 and are retained in such annular cartridgeform by top and bottom spacing blocks 22 and 23 (Figure 3). Positionedbetween walls 2li- 40a and 2|-2Ia and the end spacing blocks 22 sorbingmaterial designated by the reference numeral 24 and which, as heretoforestated. comprises powdered or finely co inuted` activated carbonorcharcoal. 4

The lower end of this cylindrical cartridge of odor-absorbing materialengages over the outer periphery of the annular member B at the bottomof the apparatus while theupper end thereof engages over the outside ofan annular gasket 2B depending from the cover I3.

Figure 5 diagrammatically illustrates one method of preparing the wallsof the cartridge filter bed. As previously described. and in the and 23is the bed of odor-abv therethrough. Supportand lower edges bed ofmoderate size construction Ishown in Figures 3 and 4, such wallscomprise an inner cloth lining 20a and an outer annular screen or wirecloth 20 supporting such lining. The inner cloth lining and the outerscreen or wire cloth retaining means for the inner wall of the cartridgeare similarly designated by the reference numerals 2Ia and 2I,respectively. In the modification shown in Figure 5, the walls of thecartridge are formed in a slightly different manner, the annular screenor wire cloth 20 of a given wall in each instance being wound aboutitself for one complete turn. Thereupon the cloth lining 20a is woundupon said annular screen for one complete turn, after which the arrnularscreen is again wound upon the cloth lining 20a for one additional turn.Thus in this arrangement, as shown in Figure 5, it is apparent thatthere are two layers of screen or wire cloth with an intervening layerof fabric cloth theref between. The composite wall structure sofabricated would form the outenwall of the absorbent filter cartridgewhile the inner wall comprising cloth 2Ia and screen or wire cloth 2lwould be similarly formed. It will be apparent from the foregoingconstruction that air drawn into the casing by the fan I4 will, becauseof the plenum condition created within the casing, be forced outwardlythrough the filter being so forced outwardly through such filter bed inwhich its objectionable odors are absorbed, be discharged into the roomthrough the grille I8.

Although I have found that a cartridge filter will remain effective fora long period of time, it is, of course, obvious that after continuoususe, the cartridge may become so saturated as to no longer be effective.In such event, it is-a simple matter to remove the ex- 40 haustedcartridge of absorbent material and reafter which the cover the' devicemay be door air, and the use of this appar place it with a new one. Thisis accomplished by removing the-cover member I2, IB-removing the screwsII, and simply lifting of! the annular cartridge assembly and replacingit with another; member I2, I3 is replaced and the screws II tion toretain the structure in assembled relation.

In addition to this feature of ready removal and replenishing oftheodor-absorbing cartridge, the device herein described is readilyportable and may be carried from room to room in a building tocompletely deodorize the air within such rooms. Since all working partsare completely enclosed. readily operated any place within the roomwithout danger to the occupants since deodorizing of air within the roomis accomplished by this apparatus without the necessity of dilution ofthe room air with cold outtus in no way affects heating economy.

Furthermore, it will be noted that the apparatus embodying thisinvention is pleasing in appearance, of simple and rugged construction,and is susceptible of economical manufacture.

I have disclosedia practical embodiment of the features of my invention.but I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction andarrangement shown and described, as changes and modincations may be madewithout departing from "the scope of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing comprising .abase member having an upstanding annular ange, spaced brackets sebed ofactivated carbonaceousl 30 material 24 and, after again being placed inposi` lengthwise of the casing cured to said flange having;l upwardlyextending inwardly onset portions. a centrally apertured top memberhaving a depending annular flange with its lower edge spaced from theupper vedge of the first mentioned flange removably secured to the upperends of said brackets in substantially the samevertical plane as thellflange of the base member, a grille extending between the said flangesand secured between the inner faces there f its lower =edge spaced fromthe upper edge of the Vfirst mentioned flange removably secured to theupper ends of said brackets in substantially the same vertical plane asthe ange of the base member, a grille .extending between the saidflanges and secured between the inner faces thereof' and said brackets,a motor driven fan carried by the top member and positioned in the apery ture therein to circulate air through the casing and a filter bed ofodor-absorbing material` psitioned inthe cas g between the grille andthe fan in the path of such circulating air.

. 3. In an apparatus of the character described.. a casing comprising abase member having' an upstanding annular flange, spaced bracketssecured to said flange having upwardly extendingv inwardly onsetportions, a centrally apertured top member having a depending annularange with its lower edge spaced from the upper edge of the rst mentionedflange removablysecured -to .the upper ends oi' said brackets insubstantially the same4 vertical plane as the flange of the base member,a grille extending between the said flanges and secured between theinner faces thereof and said brackets. a motor driven fancarried by thetop member and positionedv in the aperture therein to draw air into thecasing and discharge it therefrom through said grille and a filter bedof odor-absorbing material removably mounted in the casing betweenthefan andthe grille.

4. In an apparatus of the character described,

a casing-comprising a base member having an upstandin'g annular flange,spacedbrackets'secured to said :flange having upwardly extendinginwardly offset portions, a centrally apertured top member having-adepending annulari'iange with its lower edgespaced from the upper edgeofthe iirst mentioned flange removably secured to the upper ends of saidbrackets in substantially the same vertical plane as the flange of thebase member, a grille extending between the -said flangesand securedbetween the inner faces thereof and said brackets.' a motor driven fanAearned by che pmember and positioned in che aperturetherein to draw airinto the casing and discharge it therefrom through said and acylindrical cartridge of odor-absorbing material .positioned in thecasing between `the fan and the grille and spaced inwardly from saidgrille.

5.v In anapparatusof the character described, a casing comprising. abase member having an upstanding annular flange, spaced brackets securedto said flange having upwardly extending inwardly offset portions. acentrally apertured top member having a depending annular flange withits lower edge spaced from the upper edge ,v of the first mentionedflange removably secured to they upper ends of said brackets insubstantially the same vertical plane as the flanges of the base member,a grille extending between the said c flanges and secured between theinner faces thereof and said brackets, a motor driven .fan

' carriedby the top member and positioned in the aperture therein tocirculate air through the grille and casing,- annular positioning meansextending upwardly from the base member and spaced inwardly from theupstanding flange v' thereon, annular positioning means depending fromthe top member and spaced inwardly from the depending flange thereonanda cylindrical cartridge of odor-absorbing material positioned inthecasing in the path of-air flowing between the 'fan and grille held inposition in said casing by. said means which extends upwardly from thebase thereof vand depends -from the top thereof.

6. In apparatus of the lcharacter described, a

cylindrical casing having a closed bottom and a removable apertured topmember, a motor driven fan carried by the top member and mounted in theaperture therein with the median line of the fan substantially in theplane of the aperture. guard means supported by the tpp 4member of thecasing and extendingover the fan to prevent accidental 'contacttherewith, screened discharge openings in the wall of the casing remotefrom .the fan to permit of .passage of air in relatively -"largequantities, and an'Iodor-removing lter vbed assembly of activated carbonmounted and so positioned inthecasing that air flowing between the fanand such screened opening necessarily l.

through said odorremoving lter bed. 7. A illtercartrldge ferait-treatingapparatus comprising a plurality of spaced cylindrical walls eachconsisting oi' a continuous double layer of 'metallic screen with alayer of textile fabric therebetween and comminuted odor-absorbentmaterial between'said walls.

8. Air treating apparatu'scomprlsing confronting casing members eachhaving an end-wall, one of said end walls having an openingtherethrough, bracket members spaced around the'peripheries of saidcasing members and removably connecting them together in spaced apartrelation, a rotatablefan carried by said one end wall within the openingtherethrough for drawing air into said casing 'members and dischargingthe drawn-in air through :the space therebetween,

`and a' lter member. in said casing members seated against said end'walls and saidbracket members to cover the space between said casingmembers whereby' air discharged by said fan passesthrough the filtermember.

. minori)l scrum.

